from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
TO FALSIFY, crim. law. To prove a thing to be false; as, "to falsify a
record." Tech. Dict.; Co. Litt. 104 b. To alter or make false a record. This
is punishable at common law. Vide Forgery.
2. By the Act of Congress of April 30, 1790, s. 15, 1 Story's L. U. S.
86, it is enacted, that if any person shall feloniously steal, take away,
alter, falsify, or otherwise avoid, any record, writ, process, or other
proceedings in any of the courts of the United States, by means whereof any
judgment shall be reversed, made void, or not take effect; or if any person
shall acknowledge, or procure to be acknowledged, in any of the courts.
aforesaid, any recognizance, bail, or judgment, in the name or names of any
other person or persons not privy or consenting to the same, every such
person, or persons, on conviction thereof, shall be fined not exceeding five
thousand dollars, or be imprisoned not exceeding seven years, and be whipped
not exceeding thirty-nine stripes'. Provided nevertheless, that this act
shall not extend to the acknowledgment of any judgment or judgments by any
attorney or attorneys, duly admitted, for any person or persons against whom
any such judgment or judgments shall be had or given.
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
TO FALSIFY, chancery practice. When a bill to open an account has been
filed, the plaintiff is sometimes allowed to surcharge and falsify such
account; and if any thing has been inserted that is a wrong charge, he is at
liberty to show it, and that is a falsification. 2 Ves. 565; 11 Wheat. 237.
See Account stated; Surcharge.